Resort Report
By Rachael Hodson
With fall in full swing, there are still ample opportunities to head up to the mountains for a little fun and relaxation before the snow flies. Hiking, mountain biking and fabulous food await you! Also, while some resorts are taking it easy this year on improvements, others are spending plenty to improve skier visits and help our state’s economic woes. From new lifts to added terrain and eco-friendly toilets, Utah’s ski resorts are ready to welcome this season’s visitors with more amenities and first-rate new features. Take a look…
Alta
Head up and take advantage of the gorgeous fall colors. Hike to Cecret Lake then head over to the Alta Lodge for a quiet Saturday night, and wake up to a fantastic Sunday brunch! Open your heart to change and sign up early for a fall yoga retreat on October 8-10. alta.com
Beaver Mountain
The lifts will look a little sparklier this year with a coat of fresh paint. skithebeav.com
Brian Head
Hiking and mountain biking here is a vacation in itself. Freestyle, downhill and an insane terrain park have all the thrills you are seeking this fall, along with the new, gorgeous Vista Hiking Trail. brianhead.com
Brighton
Drop your little ones off at Brighton’s new child care center and go enjoy the new features at the terrain park. brightonresort.com
The Canyons
This resort can’t seem to settle down. They have the “we want more” syndrome and have just announced the launch of two state-of-the-art lifts, a direct-connect gondola, expanded terrain, a Ski Beach for après-ski socializing and vastly improved snowmaking capabilities. thecanyons.com
gorgoza park
This tubing area, owned by PCMR, boasts a new 390-foot conveyor lift that will replace the current tow rope accessing the lower tubing lanes. The new conveyor lift will increase the uphill capacity at Gorgoza by 25 percent. Gorgoza will also add a 60-foot conveyor lift designed to improve accessibility to the Fort Frosty play area.
Deer Valley
Why change a good thing when you are the best? Deer Valley, who has been rated the #1 Ski Resort in America three years in a row by SKI Magazine, isn’t making any major changes this season. Except for the AFFORDABLE locals ski passes this year! Come relax this fall at the fine lodges and dine at some of Utah’s swankiest restaurants before prices go up with the snowfall. deervalley.com
eagle point
This resort in Beaver, Utah will open mid-December as Southern Utah’s newest ski experience. Eagle Point is located a short 3-hour drive from Las Vegas, and 3.5 hours from Salt Lake City. The resort’s website is expected to launch mid-October with details: skieaglepoint.com Park City Mountain Resort
Enjoy all the usual activities here, or take a ride on Utah’s only alpine coaster! Then scream down the hill on some of the world’s longest alpine slides. Park City has expanded night skiing and riding operations for this season and increased snowmaking to enhance early season conditions. They are (gratefully) placing eco-friendly toilets at the bottom of Jupiter and King Con chairlifts. parkcitymountain.com
Powder Mountain
If you haven’t shredded the fluff here, you are missing out on some phenomenal skiing! Powder Mountain has always had great intermediate terrain, but this season Snowcat Powder Safari will add 1,000 additional acres of expert chutes and bowls to the 2,000 acres of terrain currently used for snowcat skiing. The best part is the $15 price tag! powdermountain.com
Snowbasin
The fall colors are spectacular here! Enjoy more than 50 miles of well-maintained trails for hiking and mountain biking. Through October 3, the Needles Gondola is in operation every weekend for lift-assisted mountain biking, hiking and mountaintop dining. Disc golf is also available. Get a great deal on season passes by purchasing before October 3. snowbasin.com
Snowbird
Oktoberfest is still running on weekends through October 10. Head up and ride the alpine slide, or try your luck with the bull! Great food and cheap pre-season deals on lodging make it a shoe-in for a great weekend retreat! The Cliff Lodge is currently renovating The Spa, so visit this winter to relax and unwind after a day on the slopes. snowbird.com
Solitude
Mountain biking is still available for those of you willing to huff it up the hill. The trails are well marked and a ton of fun! A new magic carpet ride, opening this winter, will make your littlest bambinos have a more enjoyable experience while learning to ski. Buy your season pass by October 31 for the best price. skisolitude.com